Wilderness Expeditions

Caleufu River

The Caleufu River starts in Lanín National Park and run roughly 50 miles until it reaches the Alicura Reservoir. With most of the river surrounded by private ranches, our 3 night/4 day expeditions offer the only way to fish the entire river. In the higher elevation the river cuts through beautiful low canyons and pine forests while the lower portions meanders through the Patagonia steppe along grassy, willow lined banks. The Caleufu hosts a healthy population of Rainbow and Brown Trout averaging 15-18 inches. Large Brown Trout of 9-12 pounds lurk in the deepest pools and demand a streamer. Dry flies and nymphs all work incredibly well in this medium sized, freestone river where insects and Pancora Crabs thrive. This river is best from November to mid-January when there is enough water to float. The intimate Caleufu River offers seclusion, superior fishing and spectacular scenery and is not to be missed.

Collón Curá River

The large Collon Cura is a prolific trout river running through a wide valley flanked by smaller mountains that precede the larger Andes. It is known for 40+ fish days with strong 16-20 inch trout which are most abundant in the riffles. Larger Browns are more frequently found in deeper pools, under submerged willow branches and along the rocky cliffs. The Collon also has slow slide channels and several backwaters where it’s common to see multiple heads sipping insects. The diversity of water allows anglers to employ a variety of tactics.

Mid-Summer offers exciting fishing due to the great minnow migration up river from the Pierda de Aguila Reservoir. Millions of silver-sided minnows fill riffles, creating a feeding frenzy where both trout and prey are seen breaking the water. These are big and powerful fish and demand nothing lighter than a 2x tippet. In the fall, Red Stag bugle 24 hours a day and 5-15 pound Brown Trout migrate from the reservoir to the river to spawn.

Limay Medio

The Limay Medio or Middle Limay River is a large tailwater draining the Pierda del Aguila Reservoir and runs to the Atlantic. It has long been the local anglers’ “big fish river” and offers notably larger than average Rainbow and Brown Trout that do not offer themselves easily.  On our Limay Medio River Expeditions, anglers can fish large water in the main channel to small water within the narrow channels that break up the river’s wide girth.  Wading these channels provides technical stalking opportunities in pockets under willow branches.

Large trees and willows dot the river corridor while the hillsides are reduced to low lying vegetation and rocks, both wind and sun burnt like most of Patagonia’s rugged steppe.  High, red rock cliffs offer a spectacular deep-red glow during sunsets

Aluminé River

Our longest Patagonia wilderness fishing trips are on the Aluminé River which flows 160 miles from the Aluminé Lake to the Collon Cura River. Along its journey it is supplemented by tributaries big and small. The lengthy Aluminé allows us to run trips of 5-6 nights for anglers wishing to maximize their time on the water.

The Aluminé runs through the Patagonian steppe along ranches, rock walls and willow lined shores. In November, anglers are better suited with a 6 or 7 weight rod casting streamers on heavy tippet and the occasional dry fly. December brings spring insect activity and the hatches continue into April. Rainbows are more numerous than Browns and the average size increases as you move down stream. Bigger Rainbows are often found sipping in glassy water or in small pockets along the shore.

Limay River

The Limay is one of the largest rivers in Patagonia and drains the Nahuel Huapi Lake in Bariloche. It flows northeast toward the city of Neuquén and creates a natural border between the provinces of Rio Negro and Neuquén. With its crystal clear waters, picturesque views and large quantity of huge fish, the Limay is one of the most renowned rivers in Patagonia. The ratio of rainbows to browns is about 3:1 and multiple trophy fish are released every year. Throughout November, the river is high, clear and filled with voracious rainbows averaging 21 inches. December brings fast dry fly action with mostly caddis flies and January through March offers more technical fishing with dries, nymphs and streamers.

The Limay River can easily produce trophy fish any month of the season, however, April and May are the best months to target 5 to 15 pound Brown Trout which enter the river from the lake to spawn. During this time the fishing is very much like steelheading with Spey or Switch rods, sink tips and long, slow drifts.